We’ve finally accepted that it’s fall, and we’re embracing all its flavors in our seasonal cocktails. Goodbye berries, hello pears, apples, citrus, pumpkin, and delicious spices. All of a sudden, fall entertaining doesn’t sound so stressful! Bring on the cocktails & punches!
Pear Rum Bellini
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2-ounce pear juice
- 3/4-ounce rum
- 1 tablespoon cherry grenadine
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon
- 1 ounce prosecco
- Pear slices for garnish
- Ice cubes
Directions:
Pour the pear juice, rum, grenadine and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the outside of the vessel is ice cold. Pour entire contents of shaker into a highball glass.
Gently pour prosecco into the glass and garnish with pear slice.
Hard Apple Cider Floats
Ingredients:
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cinnamon stick
Hard Apple Cider Floats
- 2 cups apple cider, chilled
- 1/4 cup cinnamon simple syrup
- 1/4 cup apple schnapps
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream (or a seasonal favorite)
Directions:
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Combine the water, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan.
Place over medium-high heat, and allow to cook until the sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently. This should take about 2-3 minutes, as soon as the sugar is dissolved, turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
When the simple syrup is cool, strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean container, cover and store in the fridge until ready to use.
Hard Apple Cider Floats
In a small pitcher or cocktail shaker, combine the apple cider, cinnamon simple syrup, applejack and bourbon. Shake to combine, pour the mixture in frosted mug, top with vanilla ice cream. You can even drizzle fresh caramel sauce on top!
Warm & Spicy Autumn Punch
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 1/2 of a vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1 64 ounce bottle apple-cranberry (or pomegranate) juice
- 4 medium plums, pitted and sliced
- 3 ½ cups of Gewurztraminer wine
- Garnish with anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks
- Ice cubes
Directions:
Place cloves and vanilla bean in center of a double-thick 6-inch square of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Bring corners of cloth together; tie closed with clean string. Pour apple-cranberry or pomegranate juice into a large container or pitcher. Add plums and spice bag. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
Remove and discard cheesecloth bag. Stir in Gewurztraminer. Serve beverage and plum slices over ice. Garnish.